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Thursday, December 14, 2017

Cell phones have become a multi-purpose tool to keep up with our professional lives as well as our personal lives. We store everything from our pictures to our personal information. This can be dangerous in the hands of the wrong person. Here are ways to keep you and your information safe:

Wednesday, October 04, 2017

Admitting to being a victim of domestic violence is a difficult task in and of itself. Admitting to being a victim of domestic violence who is living with HIV is twice as difficult.
Help remove the stigma of HIV/AIDS and domestic violence by learning how they intersect here:

Friday, September 29, 2017

To commemorate #NCSAM, we would like to recognize and feature participating institutions of the #PacificPartnersProject.

Palau Community College (PCC) is an accessible public educational institution helping to meet the technical, academic, cultural, social, and economic needs of students and communities by promoting learning opportunities and developing personal excellence. One of the goals for Palau Community College is to ensure that students are learning in a safe, violence free environment. To underscore the college's vision, PCC has a set of unifying principles which guides the direction of its development of student success: teamwork, quality services, open communication, managing goals, promoting leadership, integrity and loyalty, community ownership, continuous improvement, creativity and innovation, people and respect for others.

As part of the Pacific Partners Project (PPP), PCC has sought to involve not just students, but also the community. The college has held “Tuesday Night” programs to create a space for interactivity between students and the community. As part of their involvement in PPP, the “Tuesday Night” programs now also provide a space and opportunity to speak candidly about the issues of sexual assault on campus, and how the institution can seek guidance in terms of improving campus life. Moreover, during student orientations, they discuss topics such as campus safety, what sexual assault is, and the severity of these issues, and how they impact student life on campus.

For more information on PCC and its involvement with PPP, please contact Hilda Reklai at hildan@palau.edu. Also for further assistance please contact the following:

To commemorate #NCSAM, we would like to recognize and feature participating institutions of the #PacificPartnersProject.

American Samoa Community College (ASCC) is dedicated to fostering student success by offering high quality education programs for students in a safe and academically-driven environment. These programs allow students to have the opportunity of transferring to higher institutions of learning, successful entry into the workforce, and to further develop their capabilities to be contributing members to Samoa and the Pacific.
ASCC has been actively engaged with its community in raising awareness with regards to sexual assault and domestic violence. Click here to see what they have been up to.

As part of the project, ASCC took part in the 2017 May kNOw More Conference and representatives were trained to conduct basic Title IX Investigation. As part of ensuring they are compliant with Title IX, members of the college’s designated taskforce and SART team took part in a webinar on Title IX. In addition to that, members of the campus community provided feedback on their campus’ progress in addressing sexual assault and general satisfactory of the campus’ services. On campus, ASCC is working closely with their student organizations to implement Pacific Partners Project. “You Are Not Alone,” a student organization that addresses suicide, assault, and gender issues, among others, is assisting in implementing PPP.

For more information on ASCC and its involvement with PPP, please contact Annie Panama at a.panama@amsamoa.edu . For assistance on campus you may contact the following:

Thursday, September 28, 2017

To commemorate #NCSAM, we would like to recognize and feature participating institutions of the #PacificPartnersProject.

Pacific Island University (PIU) is the only nationally accredited Christian college, bible college, and graduate level seminary located within Micronesia. PIU serves to provide an education for students, while also providing them with an environment to further explore their understanding of Christianity. As part of its mission statement, the college centers its education on ensuring its students become servant leaders who have a strong biblical world view and able to serve their community. PIU’s involvement with the Pacific Partners Project helps to bolster the goal of the project which is ensuring that college campuses are safe.

For more information on PIU and its involvement with PPP, please contact Alex Tavarez at atavarez@piu.edu

To commemorate #NCSAM, we would like to recognize and feature participating institutions of the #PacificPartnersProject.

The College of Micronesia-Federated States of Micronesia (COM-FSM) has satellite campuses within each state of the Federated States of Micronesia – Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, and Yap – with the national campus being located in Pohnpei. The College of Micronesia-FSM is a learner-centered institution of higher education that is committed to the success of its students by providing academic, career and technical educational programs characterized by continuous improvement and best practices. The focus for the College is that it provides quality education to college degree-seeking students, and it serves as an impetus for growth and development for the communities of the FSM.
COM-FSM has conducted several activities, such as commemorating April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month with the student body association council disseminating flyers and posters. Students wore t-shirts with the “kNOw More” message printed on them. In collaboration with the Australian Embassy to the FSM, the college screened the film, Audrie & Daisy, which helped to enhance student perceptions of sexual assault and how they can participate in spreading awareness on the issue. Activities at the college focused on providing students a chance to provide their input and to further ground their understanding of the severity of these issues. COM-FSM’s activities have been aimed at promoting student awareness and to galvanize student support for pursuing both the project and the college’s involvement.

For more information on the college and its involvement with PPP, please contact Joey Oducado at joducado@comfsm.fm For assistance on campus you may contact the following:

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

To commemorate #NCSAM, we would like to recognize and feature participating institutions of the #PacificPartnersProject.

The Northern Marianas Trades Institute (NMTI) is dedicated to providing eager students an opportunity to learn and acquire skills. Check out this video to see what opportunities they can provide to eager students.

NMTI has been dedicated to ensuring that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands recruits and retains an adequate workforce and pool of skilled workers. An integral part of the project is to ensure that policies are in place to help facilitate the enforcement and prohibition against sexual assault on campus. NMTI recently began formulating its own sexual misconduct policy which will be included in its student handbook, so students may be more aware of the policy and their rights as it pertains to reporting sexual misconduct on campus.

For more information on NMTI and its involvement with PPP, please contact Victor Mesta at mestavictor1@gmail.com
#FirstStep

To commemorate #NCSAM, we would like to recognize and feature participating institutions of the #PacificPartnersProject.

GCA Trades Academy (GCATA) provides a wide array of training and technical-skills oriented classes ranging from carpentry and automotive technology to project management and safety. The Trades Academy supports US Department of Labor apprenticeship programs, and provides support for the skilled labor needs to the businesses throughout Guam. Through involvement in the Pacific Partners Project (PPP), the GCATA has begun the process of reviewing its existing policies to determine how to incorporate Title IX and further enhance student safety at their campuses and campus events. To help with determining the correct course of development for the academy, GCATA held a listening session with students to gauge their knowledge on sexual assault and how they felt about their institution’s progress in aligning its policies and programming on preventing sexual assault.

For more information on GCATA and its involvement with PPP, please contact Bert Johnston at gcatrades@guam.net.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

College of the Marshall Islands (CMI) & Ohwa Theological College (OTC)
To commemorate #NCSAM, we would like to recognize and feature participating institutions of the #PacificPartnersProject.

The College of the Marshall Islands (CMI) has dedicated itself to providing access to quality, student-centered, post-secondary educational services to the Marshallese people. The College also provides selective, higher education programming, intellectual resources, and research specific to the needs of the nation and the larger Pacific community.

As part of Pacific Partners Project (PPP), CMI has engaged its campus, especially the students, in terms of promoting awareness and information regarding sexual assault. CMI has conducted workshops that engage both male and female participants to discuss issues relative to sexual assault, substance abuse, healthy relationships, and domestic violence. In addition, CMI’s new student orientations included sessions focused on the issue of sexual assault, student rights, and campus services available to students as well as community resources. The college also held a “Staying Safe” workshop which focused on campus safety, and emphasized student involvement in the exercises to help illustrate the importance of campus safety. As part of getting further student involvement in the project, student leaders also attended workshops to help familiarize themselves and to help educate students on how such cases of sexual harassment should be taken seriously and the steps to report such incidences. CMI has been actively engaged with members of its campuses to help promote the importance of PPP, and will continue to promote the need for a safe and harassment-free learning environment.

For more information on the college and its involvement with PPP, please contact Rachel Salomon at rsalomon@cmi.edu

We would like to recognize and welcome our newest partner to the #PacificPartnersProject, Ohwa Theological College (OTC), located on Pohnpei. OTC is dedicated to ensuring its students remain committed to their educational aspirations, and ensuring that students are safe within the learning environment. As one of the christian-bible colleges that is a member of the project, OTC offers a unique perspective in engaging college campuses to raise awareness and prevent sexual assault on college campuses. With OTC as a new partner, we look forward to having more resource-sharing and collaborations between OTC and all of our partners for this project. For more information on OTC and its involvement with PPP, please contact Chairman Shelten Neth at chairman@mail.fm.
#FirstStep

Monday, September 25, 2017

To commemorate #NCSAM, we would like to recognize and feature participating institutions of the #PacificPartnersProject.

The University of Guam (UOG) serves students from Guam and the surrounding islands. UOG also has an extensive network of alumni and community members who share the same desire to promote local development and personal enrichment at the University. Because of its close ties to the communities and its diverse student population, the university works to ensure that students are able to gain equal access to higher education, and address matters of sexual harassment and sexual violence should it occur on their campus.
UOG’s Equal Employment Opportunity/Americans with Disability Act/Title IX Office is dedicated to ensuring that the university provides an educational environment free of sexual harassment, and provides students with the procedures to report instances of harassment on campus or at University-sponsored events. Click here to find out more.

UOG’s Title IX office conducted a presentation on the evolution of Title IX, and students provided feedback on campus safety and the overall progress that UOG has made in addressing sexual assault on campus. UOG is currently in the process of their annual sexual misconduct policy review, and is planning for more activities to engage its students to help further familiarize themselves with the issue of sexual assault on campus.

For more information on UOG and its involvement with PPP, please contact John Rivera, PhD at jrivera@triton.uog.edu. For further assistance at the campus, you may contact:
Title IX Coordinator: (671)-735-2244
Campus Security: (671)-735-2370
#FirstStep

Friday, September 22, 2017

To commemorate #NCSAM, we would like to recognize and feature participating institutions of the #PacificPartnersProject.

Northern Marianas College (NMC) has dedicated itself to serving as the catalyst to drive the growth and development of the Northern Mariana Islands and its communities. NMC provides community programs, such as extended degree programs, and partnerships with other colleges. NMC works to ensure that its students are career ready locally and on a global scale. NMC collaborates with its local and community resources to promote safety and awareness about sexual assaults on campus, and encourages students to take on and provide ideas for preventative measures.

As part of the Pacific Partners Project (PPP), the college hosted trivia night to help promote awareness on sexual assault and to help donate and promote to the local women’s shelter. In addition, they also presented students the “A Cup of Tea” during their new and returning student orientation as a means to help illustrate the importance of consent.

For more information on NMC and its involvement with PPP, please contact Neda C. Deleon Guerrero at neda.dlguerrero@marianas.edu. For assistance on campus you may contact:
Title IX Coordinator: (670) 237-6857
Campus Security: (670) 237-6800
#FirstStep

Thursday, September 21, 2017

To commemorate #NCSAM, we would like to recognize and
feature participating institutions of the #PacificPartnersProject.

Guam Community College (GCC) serves to meet the educational
goals and aspirations of the island of Guam and the surrounding region. GCC
provides top-notch education, and it also offers workforce development courses.
To further support its vision of being a premier provider of education and
workforce development, the college is dedicated to ensuring that students of
all walks of life have the opportunity to further develop and learn new skills that
are essential to themselves and to the community. GCC has had a long history of
partnerships with both the community, locally and globally.

To demonstrate its support for community and regional
activities, GCC is dedicated to ensuring that there is no discrimination or
harassment on campus or at any college-sponsored activities. As part of its
commitment to the Pacific Partners Project (PPP), GCC has partnered with Victim
Advocates Reaching Out in promoting and showcasing The Hunting Ground, which delves into rapes on US college campuses.
GCC is committed to ensuring its education and community environment are safe
and allow for students, and that it is in compliance with Title IX of the
Education Amendments Act. The college has also hosted workshops that touched
upon the importance of Title IX, and students provided input to evaluate
perceptions of campus safety and how to raise awareness on campus.

GCC has a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) that has met
several times. It is it the process of formalizing a MOU with Healing Hearts
Rape Crisis Center.

Three GCC employees attended the recent 2017 Community Advocate
training. One was a SART member and the other two are counselors.

GCC also sponsored presentations by VARO, Healing Hearts
Rape Crisis Center, and SiNA. SiNA is an organization that advocates for the
rights and safety of persons with disabilities. SiNA provided two training
sessions on campus for students and law enforcement agencies.

GCC is in the planning stages to have the Prevention Office
of Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center and the Guam Coalition provide
training sessions on campus to address issues related to suicide prevention,
substance abuse, and sexual assault awareness and prevention.

All training sessions at GCC are free and open to the
public.

For more information on GCC and its involvement with PPP, contact
John Payne at john.payne2@guamcc.edu.
For assistance on campus you may contact the following:

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Along
with Title IX compliance, institutions of higher learning must be in compliance
with the Clery Act. Both the Clery Act and Title IX are some of the most
powerful acts of law that ensure that institutions are properly reporting and
that students are provided due process rights for grievance procedures, and
that students who are victims are provided adequate service and support. Institutions
of higher learning are required by the Clery Act to ensure that campuses are
properly recording crimes, have campus mechanisms and policies in place to
prevent and respond to crimes on or at campus events, and that there is
transparency between students and the campus leadership when responding and
reporting crimes. Learn more about the Clery Act here: #FirstStep #PacificPartnersProject #NCSAM

Friday, September 01, 2017

September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month (NCSAM)! Each September, the Clery Center partners with colleges, universities, and other organizations to offer campus safety resources, programming, and ideas.

This year’s theme is Taking the First Step, which underscores the necessity of being informed and taking the first step towards community and college activity to promote safety on campuses. GCASAFV has partnered with post-secondary institutions in the Pacific Region to ensure school campuses are safe, violence-free, and conducive to learning called the Pacific Partners Project. The project focuses on the strategies strategies to build capacity and carry out the needs assessment in developing and sustaining core elements of campus sexual assault policies and prevention programming while maintaining cultural sensitivity and relevance in our communities.

If you would like to know about the Pacific Partners Project and its partners, contact Francesca Gatuz at francesca@guamcoaltion.org #PacificPartnersProject #GCASAFV #FirstStep

Technology has made it easier and more convenient for people to communicate with each other. It has also made it faster and easier for people to share images of every nature. Technology in this manner can do a lot of good when used for good intentions. If you or someone you know is a victim of "revenge porn," find out how to take your life back!

Thursday, August 31, 2017

As everyone is returning to school, we should be mindful that sexual assault does not stop or take a break. Do something, be a part of the ongoing conversations about the severity of this issue, and begin the process of finding solutions.
Here are some facts to keep in mind regarding sexual assault:https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-sexual-assault

Friday, August 18, 2017

Let the school year begin! Remember that you have rights as a student to your college or institution of higher education. When it comes to crimes committed on campus, your college should be aware of the reporting options available.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

The impact of sexual violence extends far beyond just the victim's physical health. Rather, it is a problem that effects the entire community. By learning more about the impact of sexual violence on the individual and the community, we can begin working towards the solution. Here are some facts about sexual violence.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Cell Phones are now used for more than just phone calls and texting. With social media apps on mobile devices, one does not have to be on another's contacts list to regularly communicate. If you or someone you know is being abused cyber-wise, it is time to safeguard yourselves! Start with your cell phone.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

August is almost here, and that means that summer is almost over! There is still time left to make the most out of your summer vacation! Whether you spend your remaining days of summer vacation at the beach, a mall, or a night club, anything can happen. Whether it is a loved one, an acquaintance, or a total stranger, there is still a chance someone near you might need help. Here are some things to remember as an intervening bystander:

Friday, July 14, 2017

Thursday, July 13, 2017

With summer break in motion, everyone is beginning to unwind, but efforts to stop sexual violence must continue. Click on the image below for more information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to stop sexual violence.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Perpetrators of sexual violence are less likely to go to jail than perpetrators of other crimes. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey from 2010-2014, only 344 out of 1,000 is reported to the police. Why does this happen? Those who do not report do so for reasons such as fear of retaliation, belief that law enforcement will not believe them, and/or a belief that what happened to them is not important enough to report.

While it is important that these statistics change for the better, the decision to report belongs entirely to the survivor. However, should survivors choose to report, they can find answers to many frequently asked questions here.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Tuesday, April 04, 2017

Join the Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Family
Violence and Department of Public Health & Social Service, Bureau of Social
Services Administration for their Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month Wave on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 along Marine Corp. Drive in Hagatna Across
Chamorro Village, behind the Guam Museum!

Thursday, March 09, 2017

Wednesday, March 08, 2017

GCASAFV's Pacific Partners Project (PPP) is supported by a grant from the Office of Women's Health. This project aims to address campus sexual assault policy and prevention initiatives and includes the University of Guam, Guam Community College, Pacific Islands University, Guam Contractors Association Trades Academy, Northern Marianas College, Northern Marianas Trades Institute, American Samoa Community College, College of Micronesia-Federated States of Micronesia, Palau Community College, and the College of the Marshall Islands. PPP representatives gathered for a Technical Advisory Group Meeting on Saipan on February 22 & 23, 2017.

The following speech was delivered at GCASAFV's Technical Advisory Group meeting on Saipan on February 22, 2017 by Senator Shelten Neth of the Pohnpei Legislature.

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About Guam Coalition

GCASAFV is a non-profit organization comprised of member agencies representing public and private service providers, community individuals and other community partners and government allies. GCASAFV focuses on addressing sexual assault (SA) and family violence (FV) on Guam at a community level with one united voice.

The GCASAFV carries out its mission by providing education, outreach and training. We assist in building the capacity of community organizations and networks to meet the needs of survivors of FV and SA.Read More